Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.19.3
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord Sets the Standard for Character
“Let me please Your Lordship by chanting the bīja-mantra oṁkāra. I wish to offer my respectful obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead, who is the best among the most highly elevated personalities. Your Lordship is the reservoir of all the good qualities of Āryans, people who are advanced. Your character and behavior are always consistent, and You always control Your senses and mind. Acting just like an ordinary human being, You exhibit exemplary character to teach others how to behave. There is a touchstone that can be used to examine the quality of gold, but You are like a touchstone that can verify all good qualities. You are worshiped by brāhmaṇas who are the foremost of all devotees. You, the Supreme Person, are the King of kings, and therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.”
What the purport teaches
- Hanumān wishes to please the Personality of Godhead by chanting oṁkāra and offering respectful obeisances. The Lord is the best among the most highly elevated personalities.
- The Lord’s character and behavior are always consistent, and His senses and mind are controlled. Acting like an ordinary human being, He teaches others exemplary conduct.
- Like a touchstone that tests gold, the Lord is the standard by which all good qualities can be examined. He is the Supreme Person, the King of kings, worshiped by brāhmaṇas who are foremost among devotees.
Try this today
Offer respectful obeisances to the Lord, then pause before one action today to consider whether it reflects self-control.
Ask yourself
Which quality of the Lord’s exemplary character can guide my behavior today?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.